With plans to greatly reduce seating capacities and export an entire stadium, Qatar is hoping to reduce the negative long-term impact of its hosting of the 2022 World Cup.
The small nation is trying to avoid creating"white elephant" stadia that cannot reach capacity crowds after the 2022 international soccer tournament is over.
"Now the architects have unveiled detailed plans that will allow organizers in the tiny Gulf nation to remove as many as 170,000 seats - including one entire stadium - from nine of the venues and send them to 22 locations in the developing world.
At a stadium conference in Doha this week, they said the initiative was aimed at insuring the World Cup would leave a lasting legacy.
"If we build up to the capacity which FIFA requires, afterward we would have a lot of white elephants around this area," said Karin Bertaloth, whose firm is designing six new stadiums and two that will be upgraded. "I don't think Qatar needs this capacity. We have the concept to build first tier of the stadium permanently and the second would only be for 2022.""
Read the full story: With plans for 12 World Cup stadiums, Qatar looks for ways to avoid building 'white elephants'
Stadium in a Box
The desert nation of Qatar is trying to win hosting duties for the 2022 World Cup. A new plan to build temporary stadia is helping to increase the country's chances.
Qatar's X-Rated Stadium and the Dangers of Designing "Readable" Buildings
With the help of Buzzfeed, Zaha Hadid's design for Qatar's new Al-Wakrah sports stadium - which happens to bear a resemblance to "lady parts" - went viral this week. Philip Kennicott examines Qatar's "awkward moment".
Tight Timeline A Challenge for Doha Metro
Doha wants to have a fully functioning metro rail system in place by the time Qatar hosts the 2022 World Cup, but the tight deadline of the event has some officials worried the system won't be complete in time.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
California plans to bury El Niño’s downpour
If the state plays its cards right, it may be able to store a billion acre-feet of El Niño’s water in aquifers.
Desperate measures: Advocates weigh draining Lake Powell to fill Colorado River
Draining the reservoir could reduce evaporation losses by a couple hundred thousand acre-feet.
Post election, Texas is no longer Musk’s 'AI oasis'
Elon Musk dolled out $446 million on the 2026 midterms, the most ever spent by a non-canidate.
Chicago voters approve permanent festival grounds, penalty for vacant property owners
Currently, major summer and fall festivals take over public parks for weeks at a time, drawing criticism from nearby residents
NYC votes to cut outdoor dining red tape, speed up permitting
New York City also voted to allow the Department of Transportation to begin work on urgent projects before notifying elected officials.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
University of Cincinnati Online
City of Cambridge
Montrose County
The Pocatello Development Authority